Coffee, conversation and a bond that transcends age and time

Greta Van Susteren tells of how she and Roberta McCain became best friends. | Reuters/AP Photo

By GRETA VAN SUSTEREN | 9/11/13 11:10 PM EDT

The following essay is part of a series in which dozens of women will reveal what women they most admire. The series is part of “Women Rule,” a unique effort this fall by POLITICO, Google and The Tory Burch Foundation exploring how women are leading change in politics, policy and their communities. See more essays here.

What woman do I admire? Who inspires me? And inspires every time I see her?

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Well … for starters, she is 101 years old (and to be more precise “and 1/2”). I first met her about seven years ago. Her son was running for president and I went to her apartment in Washington to interview her, the Mother of the Candidate.

I knocked … the door to her apartment opened … and inside was one of the most fascinating women I have ever met. She was warm and spirited and invited us in. Roberta McCain was expecting us.

At that first meeting, I interviewed her about her son — of course, since he was running for president! I suspect the interview questions were quite predictable. The interview itself was not that memorable.

She was … and is.

After the cameras turned off, and the talk about her son stopped, the crew left but I hung around a bit.

She and I talked for a moment, and she confessed to me that she had recently gotten a speeding ticket for going more than 100 mph. At the time, she was in her 90s. She justified the excessive speed by telling me it was on a straightaway out West and everyone does it. I asked her if her son knew about the ticket. She said no and that he would not be happy with her … especially since he was running for president. I promised not to tell.

After the election, we all went back to our normal lives.

But something about her stayed with me. I drove past her apartment daily on the way to work. Each time I thought, “I should stop in and see her. That would be a nice thing to do.” But I didn’t want to just knock on her door. I feared she might think I was a pest or maybe even a weirdo stalker.

I remembered when my mother was still living — and living with my husband and me — how much she appreciated talking to others besides family. When you get older, and you live with family, and you are not mobile but with a very agile mind, family can get dull. Plus, you can feel trapped.

Each time I passed Roberta’s apartment, I debated: Pest? Or would she enjoy it? Pest? Or not? And how would I know?

Here is what I did not want to happen. I did not want to drive past her apartment one day and think, ‘Now, it is too late. I blew it. Why didn’t I do it?’

So one day, I asked someone on my staff to help set up coffee … and the rest is history!

What started as a gesture from me for an interesting woman with age-related issues of mobility turned into a wonderful friendship. She is my best friend. She says I am her best friend but I suspect she is just being polite. She has said to me many times as I leave, “Imagine meeting your best friend at my age. All these years … and it isn’t until now.” I know this fascinating woman has lots of best friends, but I like my myth that I am the only one. I am sticking with it.

So what have our lives been like?

At least once a week, I go to her apartment and we have cookies, coffee — silver service and china cups, of course — and talk. Most days we chat about politics (she has lots to say) and current events. She has lots to say about those, too. She has traveled the world, and when I mention a faraway place like Pakistan, she will tell me about a beautiful garden in a Pakistani city that she loved and visited with her twin … a sister who died only a couple years ago but is so dearly missed.

During my tough days with my husband’s health (who is now fine), she was there. If I need work advice (and who doesn’t?), there is no one wiser. She can keep a secret. And laugh? Oh … she can be funny, especially when she is pushing the buttons of her sons. (And I won’t talk out of school, but she sure can push their buttons — and good for her!)

So why is she the one who inspires me most? Because she has that wonderful ability to make me feel good — always! Even in tough times, she makes me feel good. I want to have that effect on people. That is a great quality. Every time I kiss her goodbye, I am in a good mood.

Not everyone knows how to be a friend but she sure does. We are two people with very different lives, and yet we have a blast together. She makes my life better. She inspires me … every time I see her.

Greta Van Susteren is host of the Fox News show “On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren.”